United States Arms Sales Third World

American arms sales to the Third World in 1988 rose by 66% from the year before while Soviet sales fell by 47% during the same period, the Congressional Research Service said, according to the New York Times. The newspaper said U.S. sales to the Third World previously had lagged far behind the those of the Soviet Union. U. S. sales in 1988 reached $9.2 billion compared to $9.9 billion for Moscow. U.S. and Soviet sales account for nearly two-thirds of all arms sales to developing countries.

U.S. weapons sales to the Third World more than doubled last year, making America the world's top arms supplier, an annual congressional report has found. The growth in U.S. arms sales--to $18.5 billion in 1990 from nearly $8 billion in 1989--is attributed to the Iraqi threat in the Persian Gulf and to shrinking Pentagon budgets. These smaller budgets are forcing defense contractors to sell abroad or go under, said the report by the Congressional Research Service.

U.S. weapons sales to the Third World more than doubled last year, making America the world's top arms supplier, an annual congressional report has found. The growth in U.S. arms sales--to $18.5 billion in 1990 from nearly $8 billion in 1989--is attributed to the Iraqi threat in the Persian Gulf and to shrinking Pentagon budgets. These smaller budgets are forcing defense contractors to sell abroad or go under, said the report by the Congressional Research Service.

American arms sales to the Third World in 1988 rose by 66% from the year before while Soviet sales fell by 47% during the same period, the Congressional Research Service said, according to the New York Times. The newspaper said U.S. sales to the Third World previously had lagged far behind the those of the Soviet Union. U. S. sales in 1988 reached $9.2 billion compared to $9.9 billion for Moscow. U.S. and Soviet sales account for nearly two-thirds of all arms sales to developing countries.